Driving-cap.



M. E. EVANS. DRIVING CAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

MARTIN E. EVANS, OF GHEBANSE, ILLINOIS.

DRIVING-CAP.

in rsnes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr/1, 1916.

Application filed March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,122.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, MARTIN E. EVANS, a resident of Chebanse, in'the county of Iroquois and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Driving- Caps, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to acap for driving posts, piles, etc., and particularly for driving fence posts or the like which are driven by means of a hand sledge or the like, as distinguished from posts or piles which are driven by a vertically moving and guided hammer. In driving fence posts by means of a hand sledge, the blowsare rarely, if ever,

' delivered-squarely onto the upper end of the post,'with the result that the top end of the post is deformed, being split and battered up in the case ofa wooden post and in the case of a metal post being bent over and rendered unsightly.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a driving cap for such hand driven posts or the like, which is so designed that the force of the blows, even if deliv ered unevenly, are directed to the central longitudinal axis of the post, n order to prevent mutilating and injuring the top of the post. 7

Further objects of the Invention are to provide a driving cap which is strong and of simple construction, economical to manufacture, strong and durable, and which can be readily placed upon the post and taken off again.

The invention comprises a 1 driving cap constructed and arranged as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on the central longitudinal plane of the cap, showing the same in position on a post to be driven; Fig. 2 ls d, bottom plan view of thesame, and Fig. 3 1s a vertical sectional elevation of a simplified form of driving cap.

The cap illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises three main parts, namely, a member 1 which is placed upon the top of the postor pile to be driven, a member2 above and surrounding the same, and a head 3 for receiving the blows of the sledge or hammer.

The member 1 as illustrated is formed to fit on the top of a tubular post l, beingpro vided' with a groove -5 for receiving the upper end of the post, with a depending flange outsideof such groove to prevent displacement of the member 1 on the post, and with a downwardly projecting giuding portion, in this instance comprising two intersecting webs 6 at right angles to each other, which extend down into the hollow post. For driving solid posts the member 1 vwill have its lower face substantially flat, so as to rest directly upon the post, but it mayeventhen have the depending outer flange, but this is not necessary. The guiding member 6is preferably formed of sullicient length to be of material assistance in placing the cap on a tubular post by slippingit into the'upper end of said post. a

The member 2 has a substantially solid upper portion lying above the member 1, and a downwardly extending tubular portion or sleeve 8 which surrounds the post and forms an additional means for guiding the driving head on the post and holding it against displacement under the recoil incident to the shock of blows. Interposed between the upper portion of member 2 and the member 1 is means which will direct the force of the blow to the central longitudinal axis of the post. This means may be variously constructed. As shown, a spherical body or ball 9, held in a suitable seat in the lower face of the member 2, this seat being slightly in excess of a semisphere and having the lower ends of its wall portions, as at 10, adapted to be bent or peened inwardly slightly below the center of the ball 9, so as to hold said ball against displacement. This ball 9 need not rotate, and ordinarily does not, but if desired it may be permitted to rotate. The ball engages in a cup-shaped socket 11 in the top face of member 1. Consequently, the forces of a blow are directed practically to a point at the central longitudinal axis of the post. The member 9 may take various forms, but a ball or sphere is preferred, as it possesses maximum strength and can be readily formed. This ball preferably will be formed of steel or other metal of high crushing strength.

To permit movement between the member 2 and member 1 so that the member 2 can rock on member 1 when the blows are not squarely delivered, and still to prevent disit comprises which project into vertical slots 13 in the opposite faces of the sleeve 8. In assem-' bling the parts the member 1 is first inserted into the sleeve 8 and then the tap bolts 12 are inserted through slots 13. In order to provide simplified means for limiting movement between members 1 and 2,

parallel vertical slits may be cut downwardly from slots 13 and the metal therebetween forced inwardly to form ears 12, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This form is easier to make than the slot and bolt en gagement but the latter is preferable since it permits the cap to be lifted from the post as a Whole.

The top or head of member 2, may, if

through said member 2 and having its nut andihead 15 engaging the slots 14. This connection permits of a slight yielding or rockingv motion of the head?) on the mem} beer 2. The cap can be made of any size to fit=a post or pile of any diameter and it also cantbe used with an ordinary pile driver having a guided hammer, but its principal advantage is when driving posts or the like by means of hand implements in which Y the blows rarely are delivered squarely. The parts of the cap can be formed of cast or; wrought iron or steel and can be made of sufficient strength to withstand the shocks of the blows.

Fig; 3 shows amodified and simplified form of driving cap for tubularposts or piles. "As shown, this comprisesa hollow member 19 having at its upper end a groove 20 to receive the upper end of the post or pile, with a depending flange 21 outside of the same. In the bottom of the hollow member 19 is placed suitable cushioning material 22,- of leather, felt, wood or the like, upon which a disk 23 of wood, metal, or the like, is placed, having on its upper face a rounded seat for receiving the rounded lower end 24 of the driving plunger 25 which fits loosely in the member 19, so it can rock therein, and which at its upper end is provided with the strikinghead 26. The striking .headv 26 is preferably securedto the hollow member 19 bygmeans of chain's-o'rthe like '27, so that the-capcan be lifted from the post as a wholewithout'unduly limiting the rocking motion-of the head in any direction. ,With this formthe force of the blows on the head 26- w;i ll be, even; though not squarely delivered thereon, directed to the central longitudinal axis of the post, as described, the striking member 26' being'free to rock sidewise in the tubular member 19.

The-cap described is capable of many modifications, without departing from ithe spirit of the invention. It will absolutely prevent the mutilation of the upper end of the post or other article being driven,- even when the blows are delivered at one side of the head. Furthermore, there is less liability of driving the post out of astraight vertical line when theblow is delivered-Lat one side of the head,-as is the case when the driving caps do not. provide for directing: the force of the blow to thecentral vertical axis of the post.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A driving cap forposts and the like, I

comprising a member arranged to reston'f the upperend of the post, ;a blow-receivlng member, and connections between said members arranged to transmit the force of the blows to the central longitudinal axis of the post, said members being guided and held solely by engagement with the post and with each other. i a V 2. A drivingcap [for posts and the like,

comprising a member arranged-torest ion the upper end of the P0513,iL blOW-IGCQIVIIIg V member, and a rounded projection on one of said. members and contactingwith: the other of sa d membersin'ats central vert cal axis, sa1d members .belng guided and held solely by engagement with the postand with each other.

3. A driving cap forlpostsand the like,

comprising a post engaging member, a mem ber resting upon said postengaging member, said members having-rocking: contact with each other at their central vertical axis, and a buffer member restingon-said second member and arranged to receive; the blow and transfer the force thereoftosaid second :member v i at. A driving .cap for posts 1 andg thelike, comprising a post engaginghmembenka sleeved member above and surroundingsaid post engaging member, said members havmg a rocking engagementat their central vertical axes only, and a buffer head'resting on and secured to said sleeved member.

5. A driving cap for postsand-the-like,

comprising a post, engaging member, ia

sleeved member above and surrounding said post engaging member, a rounded ,projection on one of said membersiand contacting with the other of said members at its central vertical axis, and a buffer head-resting upon said sleeved-member:andhavinga yielding connectiontherewith.

-6. .A driving cap for tubular-postsan'dthe like, comprising a member providedwith a seat to rest on a tubular ,post and with-1a downward projection to extend intoxthe" extending guiding post, a blow receiving member, and connections between said members arranged to transmit the force of the blows to the central longitudinal axis of the post.

7. A driving cap for tubular posts and the like, comprising a member provided with a seat to rest on a tubular post and with a downward projection to extend into the post, a blow receiving member, and a round? ed projection on one of said members and contacting with the other of said members in its central vertical axis.

8. A driving cap for posts and the like, comprising a post engaging member, blowreceiving member above said post engaging member and provided with a downwardly projecting guiding sleeve, one of said members being provided with vertical slots and the other with projections entering said slots, and connections between said members arranged to transmit the force of the blow to the central longitudinal axis of the post.

9. A driving cap for posts and the like, comprising a post engaging member, a sleeved member above said post engaging member and provided with a downwardly sleeve embracing the post, one of said members being provided with vertical slots and the other with projections entering said slots, connections between said members arranged to transmit the force of the blow to the central longitudinal axis of the post, and a buffer head resting on and having a yielding connection with said sleeved member.

10. A driving cap for tubular posts and the like, comprising a member provided with a seat to rest on the tubular post and with a projection to extend into the post, a

blow receiving member, connections between said members for transmitting the force of the blow to the central longitudinal axis of the post, and bufling means associated with said members.

11. A driving cap for tubular posts and the like, comprising a member provided with a seat to rest on a tubular post and with a downward projection to extend into the post, a sleeved member above said post engaging member provided with a downwardly projecting guiding sleeve embracing the post, connections between said post engaging member and said sleeved member arranged to permit relative vertical and rocking movements, and force transmitting connections between said members located in the central vertical axes of said members.

12. A driving cap for tubular posts and the like, comprising a member provided with a seat to rest on a tubular post and with a downward projection to extend into the post, a sleeved member above said post engaging member provided with a downwardly projecting guiding sleeve embracing the post, connections between said post engaging member and said sleeved member arranged to permit relative vertical and rocking movements, force transmitting connections between said members located in the central vertical axes of said members, and bufling means associated with said members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

MARTIN E. EVANS.

, Witnesses:

WILLIAM BVWHARTON, GLENN H. LERESGHE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

